November 11: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

November 11^th is officially Singles Day and Origami Day.

Welcome to day 315 of 365! We’re only 50 days away from celebrating the new year… but it’s probably too early to be thinking about that yet.

Today was an incredible day in history. If you’re wondering why then you’re at the right place! Here we are going to look at the most interesting things that happened on this day throughout history.

Did you know that on this day in 1918, Poland became an independent country? Due to partitioning in the 18^th Century, Poland had not existed for 123 years before this.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about November 11^th in history!

What Events Happened On November 11 In History?

2000 Canada’s second-largest city, Montreal, started dumping untreated waste in the Saint Lawrence River.

The city said it was necessary to dump untreated waste into the river for up to a week while essential sewage works were happening in the town. Many environmentalists at the time raised their concern; however, the city responded by saying that if repairs were not taken care of, it could result in ever worse environmental issues down the line with raw sewage.

1966 NASA launched the Gemini program’s tenth and final crewed spacecraft, Gemini 12.

1954 British writer J. R. R. Tolkien, famous for writing The Lord of The Rings fantasy novels, published his second volume of the series; The Two Towers.

OTD in 1954: British writer J. R. R. Tolkien

1918 Poland became an independent country.

The country claimed independence from the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires.

1918 After nearly four and a half years of cataclysmic conflict, World War I ended.

The bloodshed finally came to a halt after an armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies. More than sixty-eight million people lost their lives in just under half a decade, civilians and soldiers alike.

1890 The portable fire escape was patented by Daniel McCree in the US.

The device was designed to be placed near a window in a building and allowed people to descend safely outside.

1887 The Manchester Ship Canal started its construction in Eastham, England.

1851 Inventor Alan Clark was granted his patent for the telescope.

1790 Chrysanthemums were believed to have been introduced from China to England on this day.

1750 The first college fraternity called The Flat Hat Society was formed in the Raleigh Tavern at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

1675 German polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz demonstrated integral calculus for the first time.

Leibniz had been working alongside Sir Issac Newton for many years on calculus. Leibniz did not publish his findings until 1684.

1572 Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe witnessed the supernova SN 1572.

Tycho didn't know it was a supernova at the time, as the current theories established that space was eternally unchangeable. What he saw was an intensely bright star in a part of the Cassiopeia constellation where there were no previously recorded stars.

1493 Christopher Columbus discovered Sint Maarten in the West Indies.

The island is called St. Martin with the southern portion of it still called Sint Maarten.

1215 Pope Innocent III brought together the council for the Fourth Council of the Lateran, which was held at the Lateran Palace in Rome, Italy.

Famous Quotes Said On November 11

Of all of the quotes said on this day, these are the most well-known ones spoken on November 11^th throughout history.

1951

“It isn’t enough to talk of peace. One must believe it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

1922

“People miss happiness by chasing after false values and repressing the feelings that make life valuable and beautiful.”

– Charlie Chaplin

1842

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

November 10 Nov 10 November 12 Nov 12

Famous People Born On November 11

Is today is your birthday? If so, you share this special day with Leonardo DiCaprio! Check out more famous people born on this day below.

1974 Leonardo DiCaprio

American Actor

Age:: 47 years old
Born In:: California, USA

1960 Stanley Tucci

American Actor

Age:: 61 years old
Born In:: New York, USA

Special Holidays On November 11

Are you looking for something to do today? Well, here’s a few special days that might just give you some ideas.

Singles’ Day

National Origami Day

November 11 Birthday Facts, Zodiac & Birthstone

People who were born on this day all share the Scorpio star sign.

Those of you that were born in November have the Topaz birthstone. When the topaz gem is gifted to someone, it represents a promise of everlasting love and friendship.

If you were born on this day, it’s likely that you were conceived on February 18 in the same year.